Strange Brewfest 2014 – event details announced, tickets on sale

Rarely does an event live up to its name as well as Strange Brewfest. Every year this beloved event attracts a huge crowd of beer drinkers wanting to let it all hang out and embrace the strange. We’re talking about uncommon beer, in many cases specially crafted for this event. Expect the unexpected. Some of the creations will amaze you while others might disgust you. This year, the event celebrates its 10th year. Congratulations, Strange Brewfest. Indeed, it has been a long, strange trip. Event organizers have now released information for the upcoming festival in Port Townsend. We share that information below.

Here’s some advice. Decide now if you want to go to Strange Brewfest. Make reservations. Here is a list of hotels. Now that they’ve officially announced Strange Brewfest, rooms will start to sell fast. Although Port Townsend has no shortage of hotel rooms, this event sells out the entire town every year. There are two choices: stay downtown near the event or stay on the west end of town near the marina. A quick and easy stumble home from the event is nice, however the Pourhouse (blog sponsor and my favorite beer spot in Port Townsend) is on the other side of town near the marina–a one-mile walk from the festival or a quick cab ride. The later it gets in the evening, the more difficult it is to get a cab. At closing time, I’ve found it quite impossible.

While Strange Brewfest offers inventive, creative, and sometimes bizarre beers, the Pourhouse promises to offer a selection of less-strange beers from some of the breweries participating in the festival. After a few hours at Strange Brewfest, a regular Porter or Pale Ale starts to sound pretty good. My plan for Strange Brewfest is to go early. Get there when the gates open, make your rounds, get your fill of strange beers and great music, then head out before it gets too late. Go get some dinner and then head to the Pourhouse for a nightcap, or several.

When I go to Port Townsend, I usually stay at the Harborside Inn. It isn’t fancy, but it is clean, comfortable, affordable and just one block from the Pourhouse. Truth is, walking from the festival back to the Pourhouse isn’t that big of a deal. It’s just a one-mile stroll and takes about 20 minutes.

Disclaimer Alert! – This year’s Strange Brewfest is not a tribute to an iconic 60’s jam band. And there certainly won’t be any Dead cover bands performing for your inner flower child to spin, hula hoop, or fire dance to. But that doesn’t mean hippies are discouraged.

In fact, our tendencies lean towards the hippy disposition. It’s all but a forgone conclusion that we will hug a Sugar Magnolia sometime between now and January 24th.

So, why the inconsistent logo? First we say ‘NO’ to dead cover bands. Then we say ‘YES’, we’ve got a hippy vibe.

Well fellow Strange Brewvians, after 10 year’s of partying down with y’all, we opted for a logo and a theme that best represents our head space leading up to a decade of celebration….GRATEFUL!

For being the Casey Jones to our Train, we offer our sincerest GRATITUDE to the brewers and breweries; to the musicians and entertainers; to countless volunteers and supporters; and most importantly to our patrons! THANK YOU!

With that said, for those of you who’ve been to Stange Brewfest before, you know that this is a celebration of uniquely crafted brews from 30+ breweries and cideries from around our region. Most of the offerings from our friends will only be available at this festival. And most of those will challenge your taste buds, and their sensibilities. Also, if you’ve been to Strange Brewfest in year’s past, you know that this celebration is always accompanied by a heavy dose of FUNK. We’re talking, a HEAVY DOSE! This year, the music will blow your mind! You will shake it down on Shakedown Street!

For more details please visit our website at www.strangebrewfestpt.com